Mitch Dorr
School board I.S.D. 166 made it official on Tuesday, Jan. 16, approving long-time Cook County High School teacher and coach Mitch Dorr as the school district’s PK-12 interim principal through the school year.
Dorr fills the position held by Dr. William (Bill) DeWitt, who accepted the head principal job vacated by Adam Nelson, who left to take the superintendent job at Wrenshall.
Nelson was told Nov. 20 that the Wrenshall school board had selected him for the superintendent position. At that time Nelson informed superintendent Dr. William Crandall and the staff that he would be leaving to take the new job and the opening his departure caused was advertised.
Mr. Nelson presented his formal written resignation to the I.S.D. 166 school board at the school board’s Dec. 12 meeting. His last day was Jan. 1, 2018.
During the holiday break, interviews with three of the nine applicants were held. School board member Carrie Jansen was part of the interview process, and she told board members she was elated with the thoroughness and thoughtfulness of the steps taken by the committee in making the final selection.
Dorr’s first day on the job was Jan. 2. When asked who was filling his shoes n the classroom Mitch replied, “My teaching position will be filled with two other teachers. I will continue to look after the work-study program. My history class will be picked up by current social studies teacher Peter Lucken and my economics course will be picked up by Jane Gellner, who is currently retired from teaching but has an active license which includes economics.”
The move to put Dorr in the principal position before school board approval caught school board member Deb White off-guard, but superintendent Crandall explained that the school district’s policies for hiring had been followed, and filling an open position before the school board met happened from time to time when the need arose. White said she was satisfied with Crandall’s explanation.
A 1993 Cook County High School graduate, Mitch is in his 20th year teaching and coaching at his alma mater.
Coach Dorr was kind enough to take the time to answer some questions for the Cook County News- Herald.
What was your undergraduate major in college and where did you graduate from?
“I majored in Social Science/Secondary Education and graduated from University of Minnesota-Morris.”
How many years have you coached and what sports have you coached?
“I coached as a Student- Assistant for three seasons at University of Minnesota- Morris (1995-1998). This is my 20th year coaching at Cook County Schools: . Head Girls Basketball Coach (1998 -2004, 2013 -2015)—8 seasons . Head Boys Basketball Coach (2004-2013, 2015 to present)—12 seasons . Asst. Football Coach (1998 – 2005 with one season off)—6 seasons . Head Football Coach (2005 to Present)— 13 seasons.
When did you get your principal license?
“I received a Masters of Education Administration with St. Scholastica – 2012 and Principal Licensure through St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2012. In 2015 I received Superintendent Licensure through St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.”
How has everything gone since you have started?
“Working with Dr. DeWitt and our high school and district office staff has made this a really good transition. I have a lot to learn, but I am surrounded by an incredible teaching staff that really does incredible things on a daily basis.”
Going forward, will you coach basketball and football next year?
“I am currently in an interim position for our district. I will be giving my heart and soul to this position and our district while in this position. Questions about coaching and other future positions will work themselves out with time and on how our district wants to move forward. I just want to serve the youth and parents of our community to the best of my ability.”
Mitch and his wife Sharon have been married for 16 years. They have four busy children who participate in a wide variety of school activities: Adam, a sophomore (15), Jacob, who is in eighth grade (14), Paul, a seventh-grader (12), and Rachel, who is in fifth grade (11).
Mitch’s better half, Sharon, graduated from Minnesota-Morris and ran track there for four years. She taught social studies and coached volleyball for the Eveleth-Gilbert School District for six years before moving to Grand Marais in 2001.
At CCHS Sharon coached volleyball for Pam Taylor as an assistant coach for a number of years before settling in to work at North Shore Title. Sharon is also the Religious Education director at St. John’s Catholic Church.
When asked if he would miss teaching in the classroom, Mitch responded, “My goal is to stay as close as possible to student learning. I love working with kids. My passion for education has always been centered around the kids of Cook County.”
Leave a Reply